Full Idea
Jesus: I came into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Everyone that is of the truth heareth my voice. Pilate saith unto him, What is truth?
Gist of Idea
Jesus said he bore witness to the truth. Pilate asked, What is truth?
Source
St John (04: Gospel of St John [c.95], 18:37-8)
Book Reference
'The Bible', ed/tr. the Church [Collins 1950], p.519
A Reaction
There is very little explicit discussion of truth in philosophy before this exchange (apart from Ideas 251 and 586), and there isn't any real debate prior to Russell and the pragmatists. What was Pilate's tone? Did he spit at the end of his question?
Related Ideas
Idea 251 Truth has the supreme value, for both gods and men [Plato]
Idea 586 Falsity says that which is isn't, and that which isn't is; truth says that which is is, and that which isn't isn't [Aristotle]